Animal is a song by the Grunge band Pearl Jam, released in 1994 as the third single from the band’s second studio album, Vs. (1993). Although credited to all members of Pearl Jam, it features lyrics written by vocalist Eddie Vedder and music primarily written by guitarist Stone Gossard. The song peaked at number 21 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks chart.
The song was included on Pearl Jam‘s 2004 greatest hits album, rearviewmirror (Greatest Hits 1991–2003). While the Animal single was released commercially to international markets in 1994, the commercial single was not released in the United States until June 27, 1995, and was only available as a more expensive import version beforehand.
Animal peaked at number 21 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks chart. Outside the United States, the single was released commercially in Australia, Austria, and Germany. Animal peaked at number 30 on the Australian Singles Chart and was a top ten success in New Zealand. Animal was first performed live at the band’s May 13, 1993, concert in San Francisco at Slim’s Café.
The song was performed at the MTV Video Music Awards in 1993, a rare occurrence for a song without a music video. Live performances of Animal can be found on the Animal single, the Dissident/Live in Atlanta box set, various official bootlegs, and the Live at the Gorge 05/06 box set. A performance of the song is also included on the DVD Touring Band 2000.
CD (US, Austria, and Germany)
- Animal
- Animal (live)
- Jeremy (live)
Live tracks recorded on April 3, 1994, at the Fox Theatre in Atlanta, Georgia.
Animal – Lyrics
One, two, three, four, five against one
Five, five, five against one
Said one, two, three, four, five against one
Five, five, five, five, five against one
Torture from you to me, yeah
Abducted from the street
I’d rather be
I’d rather be with
I’d rather be with an animal
Why would you want to hurt me? Oh
So frightened of your pain
I’d rather be
I’d rather be with
I’d rather be with an animal
I’d rather be
I’d rather be
I’d rather be with an animal
I’d rather be
I’d rather be with
I’d rather be with an animal
I’d rather be
I’d rather be
I’d rather be with an animal
Said one, two, three, four, five against one
Five, five, five, five, five against one
One, two, three, four, five against one
Five, five, five, five, five against one, said
Songwriters: David Abbruzzese, Eddie Vedder, Jeff Ament, Mike Mccready, Stone Gossard.
Jeremy – Lyrics
At home drawing pictures
Of mountain tops
With him on top
Lemon yellow sun
Arms raised in a V
And the dead lay in pools of maroon below
Daddy didn’t give attention
Oh, to the fact that mommy didn’t care
King Jeremy the wicked
Oh, ruled his world
Jeremy spoke in class today
Jeremy spoke in class today
Clearly I remember
Pickin’ on the boy
Seemed a harmless little fuck
But we unleashed the lion
Gnashed his teeth and bit the recess lady’s breast
How could I forget
And he hit me with a surprise left
My jaw left hurting
Dropped wide open
Just like the day
Oh, like the day I heard
Daddy didn’t give affection, no
And the boy was something that mommy wouldn’t wear
King Jeremy the wicked
Oh ruled his world
Jeremy spoke in class today
Jeremy spoke in class today
Jeremy spoke in class today
Try to forget this (try to forget this)
Try to erase this (try to erase this)
From the blackboard
Jeremy spoke in class today
Jeremy spoke in class today
Jeremy spoke in
Spoke in
Jeremy spoke in
Spoke in
Jeremy spoke in class today
Songwriters: Eddie Vedder, Jeff Ament
CD (Australia) and Cassette (Australia)
- Animal
- Jeremy
- Oceans
- Alive (live)
Recorded live by VARA Radio on June 8, 1992, at Pinkpop Festival in the Netherlands.
Oceans – Lyrics
Hold on to the thread
The currents will shift
Glide me towards you
know something’s left
And we’re all allowed
To dream of the next
Oh,
oh the next, time we touch
Uh huh, uh huh
Uh huh, uh huh
You don’t have to stray
The oceans away
Waves roll in my thoughts
Hold tight the ring
The sea will rise
Please stand by the shore
Oh, oh, oh, I will be
I will be there once more
Uh huh, uh huh
Uh huh, uh huh
Uh huh, uh huh
Uh huh, uh huh
Uh huh, uh huh
Uh huh, uh huh
Songwriters: Eddie Vedder, Jeff Ament, Stone Gossard
Alive Lyrics
Son, she said, have I got a little story for you
What you thought was your daddy was nothing but a
While you were sitting home alone at age thirteen
Your real daddy was dying
Sorry you didn’t see him, but I’m glad we talked
Oh, I, oh I’m still alive
Hey, I, oh I’m still alive
Hey, I, oh I’m still alive
Hey, oh
While she walks slowly across a young man’s room
She said, I’m ready for you
Why I can’t remember anything to this very day
‘Cept the look, the look
Oh, you know where, now I can’t see I just stare
I, I’m still alive
Hey, I, oh, I’m still alive
Hey, I, oh, I’m still alive
Hey, I, oh, I’m still alive, yeah
Ooh yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, oh, ooh
Is something wrong, she said, of course there is
“You’re still alive,” she said, oh, and do I deserve to be?
Is that the question?
And if so, if so who answers?
Who answers?
I, oh I’m still alive
Hey, I, oh I’m still alive
Yeah, I, oh I’m still alive
Yeah, I
Ooh, I’m still alive!
Yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah!
Ooh yeah, ooh ooh
Ooh yeah, yeah yeah yeah
Writer(s): Mike McCready, Eddie Vedder
CD (Australia) and Cassette (Australia)
- Animal
- Jeremy (live)
- Daughter (live)
- Animal (live)
Live tracks recorded on April 3, 1994, at the Fox Theatre in Atlanta, Georgia.
Daughter Lyrics
Alone, listless
Breakfast table in an otherwise empty room
Young girl, violence
Center of her own attention
The mother reads aloud, child tries to understand it
Tries to make her proud
The shades go down, it’s in her head
Painted room, can’t deny there’s something wrong
Don’t call me daughter, not fit to
The picture kept will remind me
Don’t call me daughter, not fit to
The picture kept will remind me
Don’t call me
She holds the hand that holds her down
She will rise above, ooh, ooh
Don’t call me daughter, not fit to
The picture kept will remind me
Don’t call me daughter, not fit to
The picture kept will remind me
Don’t call me daughter, not fit to
The picture kept will remind me
Don’t call me daughter, not fit to
The picture kept will remind me
Don’t call me
The shades go down
The shades go down
The shades go, go
Go
Songwriters: David Abbruzzese, Eddie Vedder, Jeff Ament, Mike McCready, Stone Gossard
